By precisely measuring tiny fluctuations in mass, carbon nanotubes will allow chemists to follow reactions of individual proteins atom by atom, predict Spanish researchers.
Their recently published nanotube device, which can weigh protein molecules to a resolution of around 1 zeptogram (10-21 g), or three atoms of gold, is the latest in a glut of ultra-sensitive mass detectors that may perform better than mass spectrometers – but aren’t yet ready for real-world application. Read more here:
This will alow scientists to discover many new things about the different elements. They will aslo find out more about the structure and behavior of the atom. Right now the device scientists have created is not practical for real world use, but soon they will have figured out how to make it applicable to everyday use.
It is amazing that three atoms of gold can be weighed to the zeptogram! That is ten to the negative twenty first of a gram! This new technology could be very useful in the future!
Soon it will be possible to make devices that can tell the difference between isotopes o f the same element. There is a problem with the nanotube. It is difficult to control it. But there are silicon nanowires that are precise. So eventually these nanotubes should become also.
Nanotubes could eventually be a cheap, compact alternative way to mass spectrmetry. They just can’t find an applicable way for nanotubes yet. A great thing about nanotubes is that they can be used over and over again because of their great mechanical strength. It is amazing that God has let us come up with things so small and yet are so complicated in the design.
It is important to further research this technology so that in the future we may even measure smaller parts of atoms.
The more we can study and reaserch the better our technological potential is so we must continue to find new technology and new ways to use it.